Allergy season is upon us, and wow is it a doozy! With climate change now a permanent part of our lives, allergy season lasts longer than before. The consistent production of aggressive allergens is greater as a result. Our poor immune system is asked to contend with a chronic onslaught of the worst perpetrators such as tree pollen, grass pollen and mold, and when we retreat indoors, we are faced with dust mites and pet dander. What is a poor allergy sufferer to do? This question is for your doctor to address and treat, as medical science has a lot of options available for us. Fortunately, we can get a lot of support from nature, too; if you are a citrus-lover, you are in luck.
Allergy Versus Illness
Allergies involve our immune system and are unpleasant to be sure. However, while the symptoms of an allergic response can mimic a cold, it is a different mechanism of immune response than when we get sick. While our immune system is designed to detect foreign pathogens like viruses and bacteria and fight them off, allergy happens when the immune system goes a bit (or a lot) haywire. It responds to certain triggers, and in the case of seasonal allergies, these are the onslaught of particles such as pollen that we are breathing in. These particles induce the release of a potent compound called histamine, which can help our bodies with other important functions but which only seems to wreak havoc when triggered by an allergen. The inflammatory reaction caused by the release of histamine from our cells into the body is expressed as sneezing, congestion, watery and itchy eyes, runny nose, and the other allergy symptoms we know and don't love so well. Because of the mucus generation that is par for the allergic response, it creates an ideal medium for viruses and bacteria.
Thus, we become more susceptible to illnesses and infections.
An Orange a Day Keeps Allergies at Bay
Vitamin C is well known to be a boon to the immune system, and citrus fruits are loaded with it. While oranges have the highest amount of Vitamin C at 100mg per fruit, grapefruits come in close second and also pack a wallop of Vitamin A, which likewise has significant disease-fighting effects. Research has shown that it takes about 500mg of Vitamin C from whole food sources to deflate the histamine response in the body. Because Vitamin C is water-soluble, it is not stored in the body. This means that we must regularly consume Vitamin C--ideally through whole food sources--for it to have efficacy in our systems.
While antihistamines block the histamine-releasing receptors on our cells, Vitamin C seems to work by significantly reducing the actual amount of histamine that is produced. This effect seems to particularly be the case for airborne allergens such as pollen and mold. Vitamin A, by comparison, has a statistically significant anti-inflammatory effect on the body, helping to calm down inflamed lungs and mucus membranes. As such, regular consumption of whole foods rich in Vitamin C and A can be an effective ally working in synergy with doctor-prescribed allergy treatments to relieve your symptoms. Add to this the antioxidant properties of both oranges and grapefruit-- shown to lower oxidative stress on the lungs--and you'll soon have the upper hand on allergy relief!
*Important note: As with all things regarding your health, make sure to keep your doctor informed. Some medications are affected by grapefruit consumption. In general, they will be able to support you best when they have a complete picture of your health protocol.
Keeping Your Household Allergen-Free
Of course, while citrus can help support our ability to minimize the effects of histamine on the inside, it makes sense that we would also want to minimize the presence of allergens on the outside. Just as you would avoid eating certain foods that you are allergic to, it makes sense that we would want to keep our homes clear of allergens such as dust and dander that can trigger symptoms. However, we don't want to substitute being allergy-free for breathing in cleaning chemicals. Once again, citrus is your solution--literally! Citrus cleaning solutions are marvelous choices for cleaning and freshening your home. Check out my previous blog for some great suggestions on how you can easily make your own.
We here at Florida Fruit Shippers are proud to be your allies throughout allergy season. You can be sure our citrus is the freshest and most vitamin-packed on the planet. So breathe easy...we've got you covered!
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